ONE MONTH GUYZ

I spent a few hours yesterday dealing with the grueling process of boxing up my room.  Anything that I wouldn't bring on exchange (but still wanted after I come back) was packed into totes and boxes and put in the basement.  I'm glad I got it done--it will make leaving easier.

Also got an itinerary for my flights from the travel agent!  It's semi-official (I approved it with the agent and am waiting to hear back from her about confirmation). Here is a rundown:

Depart from Minneapolis, MN at 10:25 AM
Arrive in Atlanta, GA at 1:47 PM
Depart from Atlanta, GA at 5:10 PM
Arrive in Lima, Peru at 10:45 PM

Departing on the 28th and, if all goes as planned, also arriving on the 28th!  I'll have all my traveling done in one day, and unfortunately will miss any Independence day celebrations (the independence day of Peru is celebrated on July 28th), but that's okay.

I have a little under a month until I depart.  I'm not scared.  I keep getting asked that--if I'm scared.  I really don't think I am.  I'm sure it'll be sad to leave my family and my city, but I don't really have any hesitation about this.  I'm just looking forward to going!  And I'll have Laura (from Minneapolis also going to Lima) with me on the 28th because we have the same flights.

-Ginger

DAYS TO PERU: 29

Guarantee forms

I opened my email yesterday to find that my guarantee forms had finally arrived, sent a few days ago from my country officer here.  I opened them to find that I will indeed be living in San Isidro, Lima (good, no surprises there) and will go to Colegio Santa Rosa de Lima, in San Borja (it's close to where I live).  I also received a list of rules, and a list of events and trips for the 2013-2014 year.  I discovered that, starting the 30th of July (two days after I arrive)  all the students in Lima will gather from 9 AM to 1 PM for spanish classes, so that should be cool!  I sent the info to my travel agent, so I should know my flight schedule and departure time pretty soon.  Typically receiving your guarantee forms is a pretty momentous event for an exchange student, because it means you can finally apply for your visa... well lucky me, I don't even have to apply for a visa for Peru, or at least not right now ;) (apparently Rotary will help me with that in Peru).  Still, it was pretty nice to get official info! 

Unfortunately, I also just realized that I threw away the packing list I'd been working on.  It was quite extensive, with every item that I thought I would need, and I think that on the last day of school I tossed it away with all the papers in my binder.  Oh well, I'll just have to restart.

I'm about a week or so into summer.  I think I'll make some more pins and rewrite my packing list within the next few weeks.  Also, I bought a ukulele because.... I wanted to learn how to play a ukulele.  So... we'll see how that goes lol.  Next weekend there will be a Bon Voyage Party for the outbounds to Chile, Peru, and Colombia and the inbounds are invited too.  Unfortunately, Merissa, the inbound in Peru, won't have returned yet so she won't be able to make the party.  But thats okay, I've talked to her a bit on facebook.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to spice up this blog right now.  I feel like it's kind of boring now, but hopefully once I leave, it'll pick up a bit.  So stay tuned!! :)

-Ginger

DAYS TO PERU:  43

First World Probs

 I have a funny story to share.  So for the last few weeks I had been pondering what to get for gifts for my first host family (host mom, 3 adult host brothers, 15 year old host sister).  No matter who I asked, I ended up with the same answer:  shirts from your favorite sports team.  However, since I don't follow any teams (or care for any professional sports) I decided to settle on Wisconsin Badgers shirts for my three host brothers (simply for the purpose of representing my state).  I ordered three shirts from Ebay (new, not used) and decided on size large (I mean, they are 24, 23, and 23 years old).  However, I did not take into account two very important things.

A:  Peruvians are typically shorter and skinnier than the average American.
B:  Americans are typically wider and bigger than the average....person from most other countries.

So when the shirts arrived, I was astounded by how large they were.  They were ENORMOUS.  My mom washed them in boiling water, hoping desperately that they would shrink.  And they did, slightly.  I had my brother try one on and it's a tad large, but I think it'll be alright.

I also got a Peruvian flag (for myself), a Wisconsin flag (for myself), a Wisconsin Flag iron-on patch (for my host sister's rotary jacket), and a Wisconsin magnet (for the family).  I'll upload a pic later.  Today I also came across some cow key-chains that light up and moo when you push a little button.  I got two, one for my rotary jacket and one for my host sister's :)

School is finally over and I had the ACTs a few days ago. 

Keep it real!
-Ginger

DAYS TO PERU:48

Awards Night and Presentation

We had our final project presentations and an awards night last night at the charter school.  My project was on Rotary Youth Exchange, so I wore my blazer ;)  I looked so spiffy lol.

hahaha my presentation face.

I won a Mathematics Award, a Community Builder Award, and an award for Academic Excellence!

My advisor!  He has lived and taught in Bolivia and has traveled a lot.

PS:  I came across another Wisconsinite that will be going to Lima!!  He is more from the southern/central part of the state though.

I have a week left of school... SO SOON!!!  Once school is over, I'll have about a month left of work.  Gotta have sufficient cash if I want to indulge in alpaca sweaters! (that is literally a dream of mine).  If I don't come home with an alpaca sweater, I will have failed in my duties as an exchange student. Same with panpipes.  haha.

Peace.
-Ginger

DAYS TO PERU: 58

Where I will be living!

My oldest host brother (Christian-24) emailed me a few photos of the house and the view from the third floor.  He told me the first floor is mainly for visitors, the second floor has some bedrooms and the dining room, and my room will be on the third floor.  In the last picture, you can see a tall skyscraper off to the left (Pretty sure its a bank).  You can click the pictures to make them larger.

Apparently this is winter in Lima.  Gloomy, foggy, but very rarely does it actually rain.  

Christian said they live in the middle of the city in the financial center, 30 minutes from the beach, the andes, and the airport.  And also, their grandmother lives with them.

This is where it's located on google maps:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=las+castanitas+186,+San+Isidro,+Lima,+Peru&hl=en&ll=-12.092367,-77.023773&spn=0.190345,0.338173&hnear=Castanitas,+San+Isidro+District,+Lima+Region,+Peru&t=m&z=12

-Ginger

P.S :  I edit the layout and colors of this blog, like, twice a week.   So that's why it keeps changing.

DAYS TO PERU: 66

Rotary Presentation

So, yeah, I've posted quite often recently, but today I did a presentation about Rotary Youth Exchange to all the students and teachers at the charter school and it went really well!  I had a power point and showed a quick video, then also answered quite a few questions.  There were several people that really seemed interested!  Here is a pic of me presenting:

RFTW-  Rotary For The Win (Didn't wear my blazer, though...)

Peace.

-Ginger

Nuthin'

I posted a picture of the pins I made on a rotary exchange facebook group and sooo many people loved them and wanted to know how to make them!  So I made a video showing how to make them :)

This is the link to it if you would like to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaeSp4VVhLo

Other than that, I don't know that I really have much to say.  We have about 4 or so weeks of school left, then after that I'll have about a month and a half of summer before departing for Peru.  I'm looking forward to the break.  I've been working really hard (dishin' that custard at Culver's ;) )  not to mention tying up all the loose ends at school (finishing an online math course that, at this moment, I've sunk about 140 hours into..., sophomore year project on Rotary Youth Exchange, etc).  I think I'll also end up taking the ACT because I can take it now or I can take it my senior year, and I have a feeling I'm not going to retain very much information over the course of a year...  anyways, it's been a busy and stressful year and I am looking forward to summer.  I plan on watching a lot (too much) of One Tree Hill, packing, napping, and repacking.  Yeah, that's basically the extent my plans at this point.  :)

Everyone is beginning to find out their cities, families, and clubs (some still only have the district, though).  It was kind of an interesting scenario for me, having no information WHATSOEVER one day, and having all three families, club, and school the next.

It's all getting pretty real, pretty fast!
Catch ya on the flip side.
-Ginger

P.S  If anyone has any questions or whatever, feel free to leave a comment!!  

DAYS TO PERU:  80

San Isidro!  ... Again   :)